Lou’s Thrifty Way of Norfolk Shines at National Bagger Championship
Normally when we write about Nebraska Lottery retailers, we keep it in Nebraska, but this time we’re heading to fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada. We swear it’s Nebraska related though.
Every year since 1987, the National Grocers Association has held the Best Bagger National Championship at their yearly NGA Show.
Among the hundreds of exhibitors and dozens of workshops and breakout sessions aimed specifically at grocery retailers, the Best Bagger Championship is the action-packed event no one at the convention wants to miss.
This year’s event in February featured contestants from 14 states, including Nathan Brtek, representing his store—and Nebraska Lottery retailer—Lou’s Thrifty Way of Norfolk.
For the second year in a row, the championship was hosted by Akbar Gbaja-Biamila, former Oakland Raider and current cohost of American Ninja Warrior. The first Best Bagger Competition in 1987 was held in Dallas and hosted by former NFL quarterback and Pro Football Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw.
The first few elimination rounds showed the level of skill on display. Hands blurred as they quickly but gently packing cereals, oatmeal, cans of pop, Jell-o pudding, pickles, Rice-A-Roni, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, canned green beans and, every bagger’s nightmare, a dozen eggs, making sure all the groceries would make it home in one piece.
Brtek won his first round, beating his competitors by about 10 seconds, and was on his way to the finals.
Before the big race, Gbaja-Biamila asked Brtek how he prepared for the event.
“Well, I watched a lot of film on the past competitions,” Brtek said. “Boxes first, cans next, I practiced a whole bunch.”
The last five contestants walked up to their stations, ready to bag. Brtek was competing against Iowa’s Nolan McGregor, Karli West of Utah, JDana Sparks of Texas and Brennan Davenport of Georgia, all dressed in the aprons or polo shirts embroidered with their hometown store’s name. Brtek, dressed in a black polo with the Lou’s Thrifty Way logo over his heart prepared, looking down at his items, silently piecing together the best plan of action, and making sure the biggest items, a box of Life Cereal and a can of Quaker Instant Oats, went in the bag first.
Gbaja-Biamila gave the word and they were off. It was neck and neck down to the finish line.
Brtek unfurled his final bag, all that stood between him and victory was a four-pack of Mocha Frappuccinos, some Del Monte Petite Cut Green Beans and a loaf of Nature’s Own Honey Wheat Bread.
In just under 1 minute, every competitor was done, having loaded dozens of groceries into the smallest amount of bags they could.
It was close, so close in fact that the competition had to break for commercial to allow the judges more time to determine the winner.
The judges returned their verdict and called it for Utahn Karli West of Macey’s, a small chain of grocery stores known for the Kong Kone, a foot-high soft serve ice cream cone.
Beaten by mere seconds, Brtek took fourth place in the Best Bagger National Championship and received a teardrop-shaped glass trophy to bring back to Nebraska.
If you’d like to see video of the Best Bagger National Championship, the full event can be found on the National Grocers Association’s Facebook page here. If you’d like to see Nathan Brtek in action, Lou’s Thriftway is located at 807 S 13th St. in Norfolk.
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